The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-07-22

across tine stretch OF Dusny pam between the
two Mazooku was quietly stroling, his as
segai in one hand and two long sticks in the
other. Presently he vanished in the shadow,
for the sun was rapidly setting, and after
what seemed long pause TO Ernest, who was
watching his movements through pair of
field glasses, reappeared walking along the
shoulder of the hill right against the sky line,
his eyes fixed upon the ground ms though he
were searching among the crevices of the
rocks for the medical herbs which Zulus
prize.
All of a sudden Ernest saw the stalwart
form straighten itself and spring, with the
assegai in its hand raised to the level of its
head, down into dip, which hid It from
sight. Then came pause, lasting perhaps
for twenty seconds. On the further side Of
the dip was a large fiat rock, which was
straight in line with the fiery ball of the
setting sun. Sudd snly tall figure sprung
up out Of the hollow on to this rock, followed
by another figure, in whom Ernest recognized
Mazooku. For moment the men, looking
from the position like figures afre, struggled
together on the top of the fiat stone, and
Ernest could clearly distinguish the quick
flash of their spears as they struck at each
other, then they vanished together over the
edge of the stone
by JoveV said Ernest, who was trembling
with excitement, ~ wonder how it has
endedp
ave shall know presently answered Mr..
Alston, coolly. "At any rate the die is cast
one way or other, and we may as well make
bolt for it. Now, you Zulus, down with
those tents and get the oxen inspanned, and
look quick about it, if you don't want a Ba-
sutu assegai to send you to join the spirit of
Chaka"
The voorlooper Jim had by this time COM
municated his alarming intelligence to the
driver and other kaifers, and Mr.. Alstons
exhortation to look sharp was quite unneces-
sary. Ernest never saw camp struck or oxen
inspanned with such rapidity before. But
before the first tent was fairly down they
were all enormously relieved to see Mazooku
coming trotting cheerfully across the plain,
droning little Zulu song as he ran. His ap-
pearance, however, was by no means cheer
full, for he was perfectly drenched with blood,
some of it flowing from a wound in his left
shoulder, and the rest evidently, till recently,
the personal property of somebody else. Ar
rived in front of where Mr. Aston and
Ernest were standing, he raiSed his broad as
segai, which was still dripping blood and
saluted
'I hear,n said Mr. Aston.
II have done the Inkoosi's bidding There
wero Two of them; the first killed easily in
t. hollow, but the other, a very big man,
fought well for Basutu. They are dead,
and l threw them into hole that their
brothers might not find them easily"
"Goodl go wash yourself and get your
masters things into the wagon. Stop! let
me sew up that cut. How came you to be
so awkward as to get touched by Basutul"
"inkoos, he was very quick with his spear,
and he fought like a cat"
Mr. Aston did not reply, but taking
stout needle and some silk from little house.
wife he carried in his pocket, he quickly
stitched up the assegai cash, which fortu-
nately was not deep one Mazooku stood
without flinching till the job was finished and
then retired to wash himself at the spring.
The short twilight rapidly faded into dark
ness, or rather into what would have been
darkness had it not been for the half grown
moon, which was to serve to light them on
their path. Then a large fire having been
lit on the site of the camp, to make it appear
as though it were still pitched there, the
order was given to start. The oxen, Obedient
to the voice of the driver, strained at the
trek-tow, the wagon creaked and jolted and
they began their long flight for life Tho
order of march was as follows Two hundred
yards a head of the wagon walked Kaffer,
with strict orders to keep his eyes very wide
open indeed, and report in the best way pos
sble under the circumstances if he detected
any signs of an ambush. At the head of the
long line of cattle, leading the two front oxen
by a 'rim," or strip of buffalo hide, was the
Zulu boy Jim, to whose timely discovery
they owed their lives, and by the side of the
wagon the driver, a Cape Hottentot, plodded
along in fear and trembling. On the wagon
box itself, each with Winchester repeating
rifle on his knees, and keeping a sharp look
out into the shadows, sat Mr.. Aston and
Ernest. In the hinder part of the wagon,
also armed with n rife and keeping n keen
lookout, sat Mazooku. The other servants
marched alongside, and the boy Roger was
asleep inside, on the "cartle,n or hide bed
And SO they Travelled on, hour after hour.
Now they bumped down terrific hills strewn
with powders, which would have smashed
anything less solid than an African OK wagon
to spllnters; now they crept along dark
valley, that looked weird and solemn in the
moonlight. At last, about midnight, they
emerged on to plain dividing two stretches
of mountainous country, and here they
halted for while to give the oxen, which
We're fortunately in good condition and fat
after their long rest, a short breathing time.
Then ON again through the long, quiet night,
on, still on, till the dawn found them the
other side of the wide plain at the foot of the
mountain range.
Here they rested for two hours and let the
oxen fill themselves with the lush grass
They had Travelled thirty miles since the yokes
were put upon their necks, not far according
to our way of journeying but very far for
cumbersome oxen over an almost impossible
A.,
they inspanned again, and hurried forward,
bethinking them of the Basutu horde who
would now be pressing on their spoor: on
with brief halts through all that day and Che
greater part of the following night, till the
cattle began to fall down in the yokes-till at
last they crossed the boundary, and were in
Transvaal territory.
When dawn broke Mr.. Aston took the
glasses and examined the track over which
they had fled. There was nothing to be seen
except a great herd of hartebeest
81 think that we are safe now, - he said, at
last, 'and thank God for it, Do you know
what those Basutu devils would have done if
they had caught usi"
"Whatp
"They would have skinned us, and made
our hearts and livers into 'mouti' medicine),
'and eaten them to give them the courage of
the white man,"
"By Joven said Ernest
CHAPTER XIV.